Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

September 28, 1926

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.—Editor.]

The reports in the Soviet press of Moscow regarding the growth of anti-Semitism among the Russian working masses, are commented on by the “Jewish Morning Journal” of September 27. The paper believes that whereas the Soviet Government has firmly prevented pogroms and anti-Jewish demonstrations, the attitude of the Russian masses toward the Jews is today essentially the same as it was during the time of the Czars.

“The change which has really occurred and for which the Soviet government deserves full recognition,” the paper writes “is that those in power have ceased to encourage open anti-Semitism. Our assertion for years and years that pogroms occur only because the government wants them to occur and cease when the government so wishes, has been completely substantiated. As soon as Russia got a government opposed to pogroms, attacks on Jews as Jews became a thing of the past. The claim that pogroms are outbreaks of the people was proven false. The population remained the same, but under Petlura there were pogroms, and when Rakowski became ruler in the Ukraine the Jews were secure.

“When anti-Semitism has become noticeable and the Yiddish Bolshevist ‘Emes’ is compelled to admit that the fact can no longer be denied or suppressed, there is reason to fear that those who have the power are less friendly to the Jews than they have been hitherto. The removal of Trotzky and later of Zioneviev is regarded by many as a victory of the non-Jewish over the Jewish leaders, and despite all changes and revolutions, Russia remains a country where the ‘higher spheres’ are looked to for guidance as to behavior. It is not necessary for Stalin to declare definitely that it is now permissible to oppress the Jews a little: ###### never issued an official ukase for a pogrom. What always happened was that a new wind would begin to blow from the upper spheres, and the officials in the provinces knew what was expected of them.

“The discussion” the paper observes in conclusion “as to whether revolutionary ### ever ### or can occur today is an academic one for the fact remains that the Russian governments made use of this theory and allowed the oppressed dis### masses to ### their anger against the Jews in order for the read revolutionary beat to ### off. The possibility, which in Russia means the permission to come out openly against the Jews therefore makes as ma###sy, no matter how it is i###”

The laying of the ### of the $2,###00,000 Yiddish public there### if ### A### and ### Street, New York ### was held Sunday. L###is Gr### president of the Hebrew d### Union provided.